Filing an administrative complaint with the Water Management Agency
Last update
The Water Management Agency ensures the compliance with applicable water management and protection provisions and exercises the necessary controls, in particular with regard to the following activities:
- water extraction from surface and underground sources;
- discharge of water into surface water or groundwater;
- works, developments, structures and installations in riparian zones protecting watercourses or in flood zones;
- diversions, catchments, modification of banks, straightening of the surface water bed and, more generally, all works likely to modify the type or the mode of water flow;
- drilling;
- installations and works modifying the hydrological regime of surface waters.
Important: Imminent pollution requiring a rapid response must be reported at the emergency number, 112.
Who is concerned
Any natural or moral person who finds an irregularity in a third party's activities.
Prerequisites
The complaint must relate to one of the following:
- water extraction from surface and underground sources;
- discharge of water into surface water or groundwater;
- works, developments, structures and installations in riparian zones protecting watercourses or in flood zones;
- diversions, catchments, modification of banks, straightening of the surface water bed and, more generally, all works likely to modify the type or the mode of water flow;
- drilling;
- installations and works modifying the hydrological regime of surface waters.
Complaints concerning the environmental or nature protection should be addressed to:
- the Environment Agency (Administration de l’environnement) in the case of administrative complaints in the following areas: noise, atmospheric pollution, waste management, classified establishments, the marketing and/or use of chemical substances and mixtures, biocidal products.
- to the Nature and Forest Agency (Administration de la nature et des forêts) for administrative complaints regarding the protection of nature (for example, the felling or destruction of one or more trees bordering a road or a path, or the establishment of a materials depot in a green zone).
How to proceed
Submission of the complaint
Identification of the complainant
Complainants must identify themselves by indicating, inter alia:
- their name and surname or, where applicable, the name of their company;
- their address;
- their phone number (landline and/or mobile);
- their email address (if applicable).
Please note that the Water Management Agency (Administration de la gestion de l'eau - AGE) does not accept anonymous complaints. It also reserves the right to verify the complainant's identity.
Identification of the establishment / person concerned
The complainant must also identify the establishment or person who is the subject of the complaint and indicate, in particular:
- their name and surname or, where applicable, the name of the company;
- their address;
- a topographic map indicating the site to which the complaint refers to (to be joined insofar possible);
- the GPS/LUREF coordinates of the site (to be provided if possible).
Complaint details
The complainant then provides detailed information regarding his complaint:
- the subject (water withdrawal, spill of substances, etc.);
- the location of the irregularity (building, specific installation, etc.);
- the frequency of nuisances (permanent or one-off), the start date, the time(s) of the year or the day, etc.
The complainant may attach any other material that allows him to better document his complaint.
Complainants can send their complaint to the AGE by post or email.
Details of other stakeholders contacted prior to the complaint
Complainants then need to indicate any prior initiatives taken, such as:
- whether or not they have contacted the company or the person concerned by the complaint;
- whether or not they have contacted another competent authority or other authorities, including details of the contact.
Conclusion
The complainant can specify whether he wishes to be informed on the follow-up to the complaint or not by the administration.
Submission of disputes
Once the complaint has been received, the AGE sends an acknowledgement of receipt with the number under which the complaint has been registered to the complainant by post or email.
After reviewing the complaint, the AGE:
- checks the activities concerned by the complaint;
- if necessary, the complaint is forwarded to the competent authority.
Penalties for slanderous or defamatory accusations and denunciations
A penalty of imprisonment of 15 days to 6 months and a fine of EUR 251 to 10,000 will be applied to whoever:
- produces, in writing, a libellous or defamatory statement to the authorities;
- addresses, in writing, to a person any libellous or defamatory accusations against a subordinate of said person.
Online services and forms
Who to contact
-
Water Management Authority Unit - Inspection, Control and Pollution Management
- Address:
- 1, avenue du Rock'n'roll L-4361 Esch-sur-Alzette
- Phone:
- (+352) 24 75 05 40
- Email address:
- controle@eau.etat.lu
- Website:
- https://eau.gouvernement.lu/fr.html
Related procedures and links
Procedures
Links
Further information
-
Ëmwelt.lu
le portail de l'environnement
-
Geoportail.lu
The national Geoportal of the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg
Legal references
relative à l'eau
